Apparatus for removing deposit of carbon from incandescent-electric-light bulbs.



my. 648,655. P atented May I900.

E. w. cusuma. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DEPOSIT OF CARBON FROM INCANOESOENTELECTRIC LIGHT BULBS.

(Application filed Nov. 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 02 I a UNITED ST-iwasPATENT, omcs;

ERNEST V. CUSIIIN G, F MIDDLETON, MASSACHUSETTS,

APPARATUS FOR REMOVINQ arrest or CARBON FROM lNCANDESCENFELECTRIC-LIGHTsures.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,655, dated my1,1900; Application and Noveinheiy 29, 1899. semi No. 738,826. onmodel.)

,chusetts, have invented an Improvemeutin Apparatus forRemovingDeposit'ot Carbon from Incandescent-Electric-Light Bulbs, of"which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a to 'specificatiomlike letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus for removing the coating or layerof carbon from the inside of the bulb of an incandescent s electric lampwhich is deposited thereon by disintegration of the carbon filamentincident to passing an electric current through it.

So far as I am aware itis now common to subject the usual glass bulb tothe direct ac- :0 tionof a flame for a sufiicient length of time 'toheat the bulb to the required degree to volatilize oroxidize the carbonand to cause the vapor to escape through a small aperture provided atthe apex of the bulb; This :5 method, however, is very unsatisfactory,be-.

cause the directly-applied-heat causes a large percentage of breakage ofbulbs and in manyinstances seriously injures the cement by means ofwhich the usual collars or bases are secured to the bulbs.

-My improved apparatuscousists, essentially, in means for volatilizingor oxidizing or otherwise removing the coating or layer of carbonwhich'isdeposited upon the interior of the bulb, by subjecting the bulbto the action of radiant heat as contrasted to subjecting it tothe-direct action of-a flame.

One way of carrying out this invention and which in practice proves veryeffective is to 46 provide a suitable furnace with a top of fireclayormagnesio-calcite or other material which is a non-conductor of heatand to sup-' port in said top a number of open-mouthed pots orcrucibles, which will be made'of any.

suitable heat-conducting material, as iron,

said pots or crucibles being disposed in direct contact with the flame,and to provide suitable lamp-holders, which are constructed and arrangedto receive the lamps and hold o them in said pots or crucibles in suchmanner that they will not touch the pot or crucible,and-' the lamps thussupported are consequently subjected only to the radiating heat of saidpot or crucible. The lamp-holders are also preferably constructed so asto serve as closing-caps for the open-mouthed pots or crucibles, whichmaterially assists in retaining the heat in said pots or crucibles, andthey are also preferably constructed so as to keep the heat away fromthe collars or bases of the lamps as much as possible, and thus protectthe cement which secures the collars or bases to the bulbs.

Figure 1 shows in longitudinal vertical section an apparatus embodyingthis invention for removing the deposit of carbon from the interior ofthe bulbs of incandescent electric lamps; Fig. 2, a plan view of thefurnaces shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3,-a view of the lamp-holder, partlyin section and partly in elevation. r

a represents a furnace which may be of anysuitable construction adaptedfor the purposes herein designed,it being herein shown as comprising afire-pot a and a surrounding chamber a having its side walls a and topwall a composed of fire-brick or any other suitable material which is anon-conductor of heat, and the walls of the surrounding chamber it areso arranged with relation to the fire-pot that'the heat will bedistributed I equally.

b represents one of a number of pots or crucibles which are adapted tobe supported in the furnace in such manner as to be heated to therequired temperature. These pots or crucibles are formed-with openmouths, and they are made of iron or other heat conducting material andare fitted into holes formed or provided in the top wall a of thefurnace, yet they are capable of being removed from said top wallwhenever desired in order that others may be substituted as mayberequired.

c represents one. of the lamp-holders, (see Figs.- land 3,) and, asherein shown, it consists, essentially, of a tubular end portion 0',attached to one end ofa rod or bar 0 said tubular end portion 0' beingcomposed of magnesiacalcite, asbestos, or any equivalent material whichis practically incombustible and anonconductor of heat, said rod or bar0. being com posed of a material which is a non-conductor .wire, asshown at a", or it may be otherwisev constructed. The tubular endattached to the end of the handpiece (1 preimportant. a 2 5 into andconnected with the lamp-holder, and

p mouth or end of one of thepots or crucibles l 3 0 crucible.

'rod or bar 0 although it may be attached to lieu of this form ofengaging device it isobholdthe lampin said pot or lamp is thus containedin said pot or crucible said pot or crucible,and the coatingorlayerportion a" may be composed of a number of layers of material boundtogether and held by portion of when.

sents a socket into which the base of the lamp is placed and to hold thelamp when thus placed in the socket a suitable engaging device isprovided which is containedin said socket and which is attachedto theend of the the tubular end portion 0. As herein shown, thesaidengagingdevice consists of a collar (1, formed with a number of spring-actingfingers of suitable length and shape to engage the base of the lamp'andhold it securely.- In

vions that any other suitable form or' construction of engaging devicemay be provided. When the lamp is introduced into the socket and isengaged bysaid engaging device, it will be seen that the collar or baseof the lamp is quite fully protected from the heat, which is The lamp iseasily and quickly introduced thelamp holden with the lamp engaged a ndheld by it,is then introduced 'into' the open as represented in Fig. 1.

To support the lamp-holder in elevated position in the pot or crucible,I have secured to the handpiece '0 a circular or other-shaped plate 0,which is adapted to rest on top of the pot or crucible, and said plateis preferably made of suitable shape and size to practically close theopen mouth or end of the pot or crucible so as to confine the heat insaid pot or The tubular end portion (5' of the lampholder is made ol'suitable size to freely enter thepot or crucible b, yet itwill be seenthat it also substantially closes the open end of the pot or crucible,and acting in conjunction with the plate a will very elfectu allyconfine and retain the heat in the pot or crucible.

flfhe lamp-holder is made of suitable length relative to the length orthe pot or crucible to crucible free from contact with the wallsthereof, yet when the it will be subjected to the heat radiating from ofcarbon which is deposited upon the interior of the bulb will becaused'to escape through the perforation. provided in the end of thebulb.

In practice the temperature will lie-maintained su flicient to heatthepots or crucibles red-hot, and in practice I find that at such atemperature the glass bulbs will be heated sufficiently to drive olf theinterior coating or deposit of -carbon, yet will notmelt.

T e heat causes the carbon to escape from the erfora-ted bulb, and thepresumption is, that it is volatilized or oxidized, and consequentlywhile I have herein referred to volatilizing or oxidizing the carbon Iintend to and do include an y other condition by which the carbonisremoved by the action of the heat.

Iclaim-f 1. In an apparatus for removing the deposit of carbon from theinterior of the bulb of an incandescent electric lamp, spot or crucible,means for heating it,andn lamp-holder adapted to support the lamp insaid pot or crucible free from contact therewith, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an apparatus for removing the deposit of carbon from the interiorof the bulb of an incandescent electric lamp; a pot'or crucible, meansforheating it,and a lamp-holder adapted to support the lamp in said potor crucible free from contact therewith, having a handpiece ofnon-conducting material by which said lamp-holder may be removed,snbstan tially as described. Y g

3. In an apparatus for removing the deposit of carbon from the-interiorof the bulb 051m with an engaging device for engaging the base ofthedamp, .saidzlamp-holder supperting the lamp invsaid peter cruciblefree from contact therewith, substantially as described.

, 4; In an apparatus for removing the deposit of carbon from theinterior of the bulb of an incandescent electric lamp, a pot orcrucible, means for heating it,and-a lam p-holder adapted to support thelamp in said pot or crucible free from contact therewith, and to alsosubstantially close the open end of said pot or crucible, substantiallyasdescribed.

5. In anapparatus'forremoving-thedeposit of carbon from the interior ofthe bulb of an incandescent electric lamp,a pot or crucible, means forheating it, and aslamp-holder hav-' ing an engaging device forengaging'the base of the lamp and having meansfor protecting said basefrom the heat and also having a support by which the lampisheld in thepot or crucible free from contact therewith, substantially as described.

, 6. luau apparatus for removing the deposit of carbon from theinterior-of the bulb of an incandescent electric lamp, a pot orcrucible, means for heating it and a lamp-holder having an engagingdevice for engaging the base of the lamp and having means for protectingsaid base from-the heat and also having means for. supporting the saidlamp-holder with the lamp free from contact with the pot or crucible,andalso having means for closing the open end of the pot or crucible,substantially as described. I

-,In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificationin-the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST w. OUSIlING.

"Witnesses: ARTHUR P. Cusnnvo,

B. J. Novas.

